Carol Finsrud claims 3 of 5 American records set at throws champs

Carol at 2010 Sacto nationals.

George Mathews graciously writes: “Five American Records Set at USA Masters Throws Champions at West Seattle Stadium Seattle, Washington. On August 18th and 19th in a national championship which attracted 69 athletes from all over the Unites States, Carol Finsrud of Lockhart, Texas, set 3 American records. In the women’s 55-59 age group she broke the American record in the 25-pound super weight with a mark of 32-5¾, winning the super weight championship, on her way to breaking the women’s Ultra Weight Pentathlon record with a mark of 4621 points. This was also the highest score for any women.” See results here.

Ultraweight contestants pose with their concrete-block implements. Advil?

George continues:

Carol also set an American record in the women’s throws pentathlon 55-59 age group with a total 4098 points, again with the highest point total of all women… In the men’s ultra weight championship competition, Mark Landa of Gilbert, Arizona, won the men’s 35-35 with an American record 4244. This was the highest point score for all male competitors. In the men’s 45-49 age group, David Bickel of Scottsdale, Arizona set the American record with a 3980 point total.

But I was later informed:

M70 Bob Cahners’ score of 4460 was the highest men’s score and second only to Carol Finsrud, who scored highest of everyone. The competition was a lot of fun and the meet was very well-run as is George Mathews’ custom.

USATF Masters Throws Coordinator Jerry Bookin-Weiner adds:

At the USA Masters Throws Championships in Seattle over the weekend the Masters Throwing Events Committee presented its three annual awards:

Lad Pataki Award, recognizing a career of excellence in throwing: Dick Hotchkiss (M75-79, Grass Valley, CA)

Ken Weinbel Award, recognizing lifetime contributions to the throwing community: George Mathews (M65-69, Issaquah, WA)

Tom Gage Award, recognizing the thrower of the year: Ed Burke (M70-75, Los Gatos, CA)

Hotchkiss is a many time national champion, world champion and record holder; he is also a former member of the Games Committee and former Throwing Events Committee chair.

Mathews has long been a leader in masters track and field, former national chair, and organizer of both the 2012 and 2007 throws championships (among many other meets)

Burke is an Olympian who in 2012 won the world indoor championship in the weight throw, was second in the hammer at the indoor world championships, won the hammer and weight throws at the USA Masters Outdoor T/F Championships in LIsle, IL, was the highest scorer in the USA Masters Throws Pentathlon Championship, and shattered the world weight throw record by 1.48m, throwing 22.33m earlier this summer.

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August 20, 2012

17 Responses

  1. John Stilbert - August 21, 2012

    American record throws, but a World record scream! Congratulations Carol. Awesome job.

  2. Tom Carlson - August 21, 2012

    Great job Carol. Wonderful.

  3. Mary Harada - August 21, 2012

    wonder – congratulations Carol.

  4. Mary Harada - August 21, 2012

    that was supposed to be wonderful – clicked submit too quickly

  5. tb - August 21, 2012

    Those aren’t concrete-block implements. The little one in front of Kier’s feet is 98 lbs of mostly lead, I believe. The big one is probably the 300 lb-er.

    Sandals are not typically used in an ultraweight competition, by the way, but some people are just trailblazers.

  6. peter van aken - August 21, 2012

    sandals means he recently stepped down from time consuming duties and is now more relaxed- and might even be practicing at Arlington!

  7. George Mathews - August 21, 2012

    I want to apologize to Bob Cahners. The new 70 year did indeed have the highest score of all ultra weight competitors 4460. Sorry Bob. Congrats George

  8. engineer - August 22, 2012

    Great picture of the youngsters. If anyone has a picture of the M50-59 group, can you make it available?

  9. Mark Cleary - August 22, 2012

    Congrats Carol, I’m super happy for you-I love it when nice people do great things!

  10. Marty Wright - August 22, 2012

    Yay Carol!! I bet you can break your record.

  11. Christel Donley - August 23, 2012

    Great to see John Seto in the picture, the “sandal gladiator” He is the man who tirelessly compiles
    performances for the rankings, just in case you did not know ….
    Well, he might have gotten tired, but he gets his strength from throwing those insanly heavy “implements”

  12. Marty Wright - August 23, 2012

    Yes! A big THANK YOU to John Seto. So many of us check those rankings weekly if not daily. Thank you so much!!!!!

  13. Robin Hanson - August 23, 2012

    Congratulations Carol!

  14. Birgit Dean - August 24, 2012

    Fantastic! Congratulations, Carol!

  15. Wayne Bennett - August 24, 2012

    A great performance by a great lady. way to go Carol

  16. Bob Cedrone - August 25, 2012

    Ditto to comment #15 by Wayne Bennett. Let’s not overlook the fact that the American Record Throws Pentathlon performance by Carol at the USA Masters Throws Championship meet was set in what was arguably THE most competitive W55-59 field in American history. Imagine Linn Dunton and Susan Ruff both scoring well over 3000 points and both finishing well out of medal contention. WOW! Great job by all of the women in that age group in pushing Carol, Monica, and Ruth to their medal winning scores.

  17. Mike Fortunato - January 29, 2013

    Is someone compiling American and World records in the Ultra? Are they available somewhere? Thanks!

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